LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Busswas being treated for dehydration at a local hospital, a teamspokesman said on Tuesday. ''In response to media inquiries andto dispel rumors and inaccurate reports, we'd like to statethat Dr. Buss is in a local hospital where he is being treatedfor dehydration,'' Lakers spokesman John Black said in a writtenstatement.

LONDON (Reuters) - World 100 meters record holder UsainBolt could break the nine-second barrier if he gets a start asfast as his training partner Yohan Blake, according to theformer world 200 meters record holder Tommie Smith. Bolt, whowas beaten by Blake in both the 100 and 200 at this year'sJamaican trials, set his world record of 9.58 seconds at the2009 Berlin world championships. He also reduced his own world200 record to 19.19 in Berlin.

FLEURIE, France (Reuters) - Almost two minutes behindBriton Bradley Wiggins in the Tour de France at the half-waypoint, defending champion Cadel Evans remains convinced thatthe length of the race will work in his favor. ''We'll keepworking at it. I suspect that in the second and third week, asthe race gets harder, riders get tired, there are hard stagesto go and the Tour will open up more and more,'' he toldreporters on Tuesday's rest day.

KANSAS CITY (Reuters) - Dan Uggla shook his head, pursedhis lips just a little and said he was not buying the notionthat the Washington Nationals are one of the surprise teams of2012. They are simply too good to be on anyone's list as aneye-opener, he said.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Former tennis world number one MariaSharapova will be Russia's first female Olympic flag-bearer atthe London Games later this month, the national Olympiccommittee confirmed on Tuesday. ''Sharapova will carry ourflag,'' president of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC)Alexander Zhukov told reporters following the ROC's executiveboard meeting.

Spain thump France in London Games basketball warmup

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain thumped fellow Olympic medalhopefuls France 81-65 in a Games warmup friendly at the Palaciode los Deportes in Madrid on Tuesday. Real Madrid point guardSergio Llull sparkled with 15 points for the 2008 silvermedalists, who beat the French to win the European Championshipin Lithuania last year.

Barca fume after Mourinho eye-poke ban is lifted

MADRID (Reuters) - Barcelona have protested angrily againstthe Spanish football federation's decision to lift a two-matchban given to Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho for poking Barcaassistant Tito Vilanova in the eye last season. With more thana month to go until the start of the 2012-13 La Liga campaign,bad blood has already boiled up between the bitter rivals.